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Unread 04-27-2012, 10:26 PM   #5
apis mellifera
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I de-plated a $150 P38 as a test for chrome restoration on my MGA.

I would not recommend trying it on a chromed Luger. You could probably get away with it on a nickeled gun since the plating isn't as thick or resilient.

I used an acid bath and low voltage DC. The chrome falls away and the trick is to pull it out when you get down to the copper. Then you bead blast it to steel. The problem is, the plating is rarely an even thickness, so you may get down to the base steel in some areas and still have chrome in other spots. The resulting steel surface will be quite rough. I lost most markings on the P38 slide.

After I was finished, the gun looked rough, but presentable. I sold it back to the previous owner for what I had in it; $225. He sold it to a dealer for not much more than that. I saw it the next month on the dealer's table for $550.

There's a $900 plated Luger on GB right now. Unless yours is significant, I'd leave it alone and sell it. Use the money to buy a Luger that's not plated and probably break even.
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